Hazards of Fluorescent Lamps

Most of the issues with fluorescent lamps occur when bulbs break.

Fluorescent light bulbs are just about everywhere -- in offices, homes, retail stores and factories. They use less energy than traditional incandescent bulbs while producing the same amount of light. As a result of the Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007, which requires increasingly more efficient light bulbs, fluorescent lamps and compact fluorescent bulbs effectively make incandescent lighting obsolete. However, fluorescent lighting is not without its own issues.

Mercury

The amount of mercury inside a fluorescent bulb is very small -- only about 5 milligrams, which is hardly enough to coat the tip of an ink pen. Even at such low levels, though, mercury is dangerous. NBC News reports on a Stanford University study that revealed even 5 milligrams is enough to pollute 6,000 gallons of water beyond potable levels. As long as the mercury stays inside its glass tube, the heavy metal poses no threat. If the glass breaks, the metal can become airborne, or it can contaminate the immediate area in its liquid form. Other dangerous heavy metals, such as lead and cadmium, are also present inside fluorescent bulbs.

Ultraviolet Radiation

A study conducted by Stony Brook University in New York showed that the ultraviolet light emitted by fluorescent bulbs can damage skin. The study demonstrated that ultraviolet light leaked through tiny cracks in the phosphorous coating inside the bulbs. Miriam Rafailovich, who led the study, said that “the response of healthy skin cells to UV emitted from CFL bulbs is consistent with damage from ultraviolet radiation.” Tests on incandescent bulbs of the same light intensity did not reveal any damage to healthy skin cells.

Clean Up

When a fluorescent bulb breaks, the immediate area must be treated with caution. Carnegie-Mellon University recommends removing people and pets from the room, and airing the space for at least 10 minutes. Turn off air handling equipment, such as air conditioners, fans or heating systems. Pick up the debris with sticky tape while wearing disposable gloves. Drop the debris into a sealable container before taking it to a recycling center designated for mercury recycling.

Disposal

As of 2013, only California and a handful of other states ban the disposal of fluorescent bulbs in landfills. Even if tightly packaged, these spent bulbs are likely to break and spill mercury, lead, cadmium and other substances onto the ground. From there, these materials can leach into streams, reservoirs and groundwater supplies. The number of recycling sites that are certified to handle mercury are limited, but the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency maintains an online list of locations committed to proper disposal.

About the Author

Robert Korpella has been writing professionally since 2000. He is a certified Master Naturalist, regularly monitors stream water quality and is the editor of freshare.net, a site exploring the Ozarks outdoors. Korpella's work has appeared in a variety of publications. He holds a bachelor's degree from the University of Arkansas.